More Than Just a Bad Day: Identifying and Responding to Student Anxiety in Schools

School counselors are seeing a rise in students experiencing anxiety. Approximately 46% of Florida students reported feeling significant anxiety in the past year (FDOE,2024). In the presentation we will discuss how anxiety manifests, its symptoms, and the academic and social impact for students. Interventions based on the 3 tiers and aligned with the ASCA Mindsets and Behaviors will be shared. Best practices the presenters and participants have used will be discussed.  

Learning Objectives

• Gain an understanding of what anxiety is, how it manifests, and its symptoms in students
• Engage in a discussion regarding the social and academic impacts of anxiety
• Learn strategies for anxiety to implement at the Tier I, II, & III levels

FLDOE Rule, 6A-5.079, Florida School Counseling Standards addressed: #1 thru #6

ABOUT THE PRESENTERS

		Dr. Cindy Topdemir Dr. Cindy Topdemir is a professor and program coordinator in the Counselor Education Program at the University of South Florida. She was a school counselor for 14 years in Pasco County and is currently certified as a school counselor. She is also a LMHC and provides mental health counseling to children and adolescents. Dr. Topdemir created and leads the School Counselor Advisory Board meetings at USF each semester. This group includes district school counseling supervisors from 10 counties and the school counseling consultants from the FDOE. She served as Chair (2021-2022) and as a member of the Governing Board of the Florida School Counselor Association for 10 years and is presently the co-chair of the Emerging Leaders Program. Her national and state level presentations have focused on school counselor accountability practices, advocacy, the school counselor’s role as a consultant, and student mental health.
		Cassie D'Addeo Cassie D’Addeo is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified School Counselor in Florida. She serves as a full-time elementary school counselor and advocates for lifelong social emotional learning through resiliency standards and bibliotherapy. Cassie creates a supportive environment where all students feel seen and valued. She is a member of Equality Florida’s Mental Health Advisory Council and was named the 2025 Florida School Counselor of the Year. Cassie also received RAMP recognition at the 2024 ASCA Conference. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Counselor Education at the University of South Florida to help prepare future school counselors.